PSAT Math : Operations with Fractions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Add Fractions

Solve \frac{3}{7}+\frac{5}{8}-\frac{1}{2}.

Possible Answers:

\frac{5}{7}

\frac{7}{8}

\frac{33}{56}

\frac{31}{56}

Correct answer:

\frac{31}{56}

Explanation:

Finding the common denominator yields \frac{24}{56}+\frac{35}{56}-\frac{28}{56}. We can then evaluate leaving \frac{31}{56}.

Example Question #2 : How To Add Fractions

What is the solution, reduced to its simplest form, for x = \frac{7}{9}+\frac{3}{5}+\frac{2}{15}+\frac{7}{45}} ?

Possible Answers:

x = \frac{7}{15}

x = \frac{5}{3}

x = \frac{75}{45}

x =2

x = \frac{115}{45}

Correct answer:

x = \frac{5}{3}

Explanation:

x=\frac{7}{9}+\frac{3}{5}+\frac{2}{15}+\frac{7}{45}=\frac{35}{45}+\frac{27}{45}+\frac{6}{45}+\frac{7}{45}=\frac{75}{45}=\frac{5}{3}

Example Question #3 : How To Add Fractions

What is the sum of  and ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We can begin by eliminating the obviously wrong answers. We know that the sum of the two fractions will be more than 1, so the answer choices  and  are out. Now, let's add the two fractions:

Begin by converting  to .

Now find the common denominator of  and . The least common multiple of 5 and 6 is 30, so 30 is the common denominator. Now alter both fractions so that they use the common denominator:

 

Now we can easily add the two fractions together:

The answer is .

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